The Kadin - Bertrice Small [193]
“Possibly,” said Janet, “but I rather fancy our Jamie comes to see me. He made me a very flattering offer when we met at court A lusty cock is our wee king!”
“He’s also a rapacious little bastard when it comes to money,” said Colin. “His greed is unbelievable. He adds to his wealth by seizure and forfeiture of his nobles’ lands. His lust for money is like his English grandfather’s, Henry VII. He’s already ruined the earls of Bothwell, Morton, and Crawford, as well as others I could name. The Douglases have suffered worse, though they deserve it I pity our Jamie should war break out He’s made so many enemies among his own, that there would be none to fight for him.”
“Would you, my lord?”
“Only if the country were invaded. Unlike the more prominent members of my family, I hae no wish to be involved wi’ the Stewarts.”
Janet smiled. “Neither do I, toy love. I simply wish to live quietly in my own little world.”
“If that be the case, sweetheart ye hae best not let Jamie guess at yer wealth, or ye’ll be back in yer tower at Glenkirk under the vigilant eye of my lady Anne.”
“Come to bed, my lord.” She shrugged her robe off and stood facing him, her lovely breasts full and pointed in the firelight.
“Jesu, if Jamie could see what I see, my head wouldna be long on my shoulders!”
“Flatterer!” She climbed into their bed, and he joined her. “Remind me to pick a pretty bunch of extra housemaids tomorrow so his majesty may be diverted. Hae ye anything nice on yer estate?”
“My dear, I couldna tell ye. The one condition ye made to becoming my mistress was that I shouldha no other women. I value ye too highly to jeopardize our arrangement”
“Why, Colly, “I’m touched; however, I simply said I didna want ye sleeping wi’ another woman. Ye may look all ye like.”
His eyes twinkled “In that case Gilbert tells me that there are two girls, sisters I believe, who are worthy of mention. I’ll have them sent over.”
James V, king of Scotland and the Isles, arrived at Sithean on the fifteenth of November. It had been a long and warm autumn, and the trees were still full with their gold and scarlet leaves, a fitting frame for the small gray stone castle, set on its green island in the little blue loch. The lady of Sithean greeted her liege, who was accompanied only by Lord Gordon, the earl of Huntley, and half a dozen retainers. Noting Janet’s astonishment at the small size of his party, the king smiled and said “I dinna wish to impose on yer hospitality, Lady Leslie. I hae sent the better part of my people on to Huntley’s castle. Damned nuisance, anyhow!”
Janet laughed. “My lord the king is always welcome at Sithean with or without his retinue. Come in now, my lord and I shall show ye my little home.”
As they entered Janet explained that the castle was built in the shape of an H and that her son, Charles and his family lived in this, the East Wing, and she lived in the West Wing.
“I have put ye and Lord Gordon in the West Wing, sir. I thought perhaps the children in the East Wing would disturb yer majesty.”
“How many children, madame?”
“Well, there are my grandsons—Patrick, who’s almost three, and his brother, Charles, who’s a year and a half. Then there’s my nephew’s son, Wee Patrick, he’s the same age as little Charles, and his baby sister, Mary, who is but five months. And my daughter-in-law is breeding again, and my younger waiting woman’s just been churched of her first child, a lovely boy.” She paused for breath, and the king laughed.
“Faith, madame, ye present me a most domesticated picture.”
Leading him into the main anteroom in the East Wing she presented the king and Huntley to Adam, Anne, Ian, Jane, Charles, and Fiona.
“We hae,” said the earl of Glenkirk, “arranged a hunt for ye tomorrow, sire. Stag!”
The young king was pleased, and his mellow mood lasted throughout the evening. Dinner was a simple family affair; tomorrow would be time enough for the neighboring gentry to descend on Sithean. Afterwards James was escorted to his apartments, and Lord Gordon to his.